Right Thinking from the Left Coast

Tag: advertising

You know, it’s so great to have real professionals in the State Department again, running terrorism into the ground, preventing the rise of dangerous Islamist states and … oh:

With thousands of fighters and some parts of northeastern Nigeria under its control, Boko Haram is believed to be the largest jihadi group to pledge fidelity to the Islamic State. But terrorism experts say that the practical significance of the move announced Saturday is as yet unclear.

Some experts say that the pledge, or “bayat,” made by the leader of Boko Haram is a spiritually binding oath, which indicates that the Nigerian Islamist group has agreed to accept the authority of the Islamic State.

It’s easy for Boko Haram to pledge allegiance to something thousands of miles away. This doesn’t necessarily move us closer to a caliphate but it does lay the groundwork for a larger and more global terrorist network that can wreck havoc from Africa to the Middle East. And yet another sign that the world has become more under dangerous under Barack Obama, not less.

A sure sign that the economy and life in general is not as bad as portrayed is the simple fact that people still find the time to complain about silly TV commercials. For my own self, and as a consumer, I understand the profit motive, the pull for my disposable income, the hook needed for my eyeballs. Capitalism is a cut throat business, a process whereby a Clausewitz style approach is adopted, total war on the competition, or you get crushed and go crawling back home to mommy.

An ad is successful if it can keep your attention for it’s duration, it hits a home run when the consumer decides right on the spot, “I want that, and I will buy it”

Take a look at the new Carl’s Jr. ad for its Southwest patty melt (it’s Monday morning, time to get the heart started):

Very clever, a 50’s style theme with a classic convertible, a drive in, a hot summer’s day, and frilly undergarments for effect. But here is my confession, I was looking at that sandwich almost as much as I was looking at Kate.

You will remember that it was the same Carl’s JR. that embarrassed itself with that ad featuring Paris Hilton, lesson learned here. Instead of giving us some has been tramp (What, Lindsey was still in rehab?), damaged goods and oh so yesterday’s news, we get someone fresh, new, unspoiled (for now) and an All American girl.

But back to that sandwich. This would fit right in with that junk food post I wrote last month, a “Heart Attack Grill” style patty melt, start my CRESTOR prescription.

Another benefit of ads like this, how about Carl’s JR. opens up some fast food joints in Iran and peppers the air waves with this ad. All those Muslim males that would gouge out their eyes with a fork when gazing at an uncovered female ankle, they would now get a taste of Western Culture, see what they have been missing, and run those Mullahs out on a rail. No more sanctions needed, problem solved.

Commercials are usually wasted on me (how much money would you donate to never ever see another GEICO commercial again?) and I don’t think I have ever been to a Carl’s JR joint, but I will try this sandwich.

Any commercials out there, past or present, ever got you to make a decision on the spot to try their product?

You think Amazon or Costco (I’m getting an email from them pretty much every day now wrt to new holiday suggestions, love those fruit baskets) wants your Christmas dough? What about these guys:

Hey Brittany, could that sweater get any tighter?

I must say, a novel approach. Although the licensing/registration fees, at least here in California, are steep, you don’t have to house train, feed, or spay your new pet. He will protect you as well as 120lb Rotti, and can be let off leash at any time.